Mining-machine



, (No Model.)

No 396,719 Patgnted Jan. 22,1889.-

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ATTORNEY:-

ALFRED E. ATKINS, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NElV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO RUFUS E. ROCIUVELL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MINING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,719, dated January 22, 1889.

Serial No. 241,597- (No model.)

Application filed 311118 1'7, 1887- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, ALFRED E. WATKINs, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented an cw and useful lmprow'ement in Mining-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for mining coal or other minerals by means of hydraulic or other pressure; and the object of my invention is to provide a new and improved machine for mining or breaking down coal or other minerals without the use of explosives.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, which will be fully described hereinafter, and specifically indicated in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine, showing the side thereof in which the pistons or rams are located. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the machine on the line 00 0c in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the machine on' the line X X in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the same on the li ne Y Y in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional. view of a portion of the machine, showing a modified construction of the rams. Fig. (3 is a plan view of a portion of the machine, showing such modifications.

In said drawings, A represents the frame of the machine. it is preferably of cylindrical shape, and is constructed of steel or other metal possessing sufficient durability and strength. One end thereof is screw-tlneaded .or otherwise adapted to be connected with a pipe or hose, B, leading from a force-pump or other suitable pressure-supplyin device. The frame A is provided on one side with a series of recesses or ram-chambers, G, into which are fitted the pistons or rams D,which may be constructed of steel, phosphor-bronze, or other suitable metal. Communication between the force-pump or other source of pressure and the rams D is had through the passages or ports E. The rams are provided with suitable packings, F, placed in. the annular recesses left between the sides of the rams and their chambers, and the same are held in place by the followers d, attached to and forming the inner ends of the rams D. A small hole, (1, is drilled through each follower to admit pressure behind the packing. The rams are held in po sition by the steps or retaining-bolts G, which pass through the followers (1 and. frame, and are secured there by the countersunk plugs H, screwed into the frame and over the ends of the bolts. That portion of the bolt just below its threaded end, where it passes through the frame, is squared, and the hole in the frame being also square, the bolt will not turn when the plugs are inserted or removed. The other extremity of the bolt is provided with an enlarged flat head, g, between which and the follower (l is secured a coil-spring, I, encircling the bolt.

The outer end of the ram is provided with a sliding sectional ring, J, divided vertically into preferably three sections, with sufficient space between the sections to allow the ring to contract diametrically as it moved down toward the extremity of the beveled end of the ram. The sectional ring is secured to the ram by the flexible spring-washer K and screw L, aided by the sides of the ram-chamber, which prevent the ring from spreading laterally. A small escape hole or vent, M, is drilled from the'exterior of the frame into each ramchamber.

The only difference between the construction already described and the modification thereof shown in Figs. 5 and (i is that in the latter the rams, instead of being cylindrical, are oblong or ellipse-shaped, and are suspended by two bolts instead of one. The follower d is also attached to the other portion of the ram by screws.

I prefer to operate my improved apparatus by a hydraulic forcepump, and will now describe its operation by that means, although itis to be understood that I do not limit myself to such means of operation, as substantially the same result may be effected by the use of steam, compressed air, awater-column, or any suitable prcssure-supplying device.

their chambers. A hose or pipe, ll, leading to l the force-pump, having been connected to the end of the aprmratus, the latter is inserted in the hole in such position that the rams will move either toward the under-cut or in the opposite direction. The force-pump is then operated and the fluid under compression is forced through the ports E to the upper surface of the rams, which are thereby forced out of their chambers and exert their combined pressure directly against the material surrounding the apparatus. The pressure is continued until the mass of material below the machine is detached and falls down, when the pressure from the pump is shut off. As soon as the pressure on the rams is relieved the coil-spri'n gs I, which have been compressed between. the follower (l and the Hat heads 9 of the bolts by the outward movement of the rams, draw the rains back into their chambers. Should the end of any ram stick or tend to stick in the material, the springwasher K will permit the body of the ram to be drawn slightly out of the ring J, and as the inner side of the shoe and the lower extremity of the ram are beveled the ring may contract dian'ietrically as the ram is withdrawn, and thus become small. enough to be drawn out with the ram by the action of the spring I. As soon as it is thus extricated the ring J is forced up to its seat by the spring-washer K. To prevent the springs I and bolts G from becoming strained, the outward movement of the rams is limited by the escape-holesll, leadin from the interior of the ram-chambers to the exterior of the frame, and solocated that when therams reach the on tward limit oftheir stroke the holes are uncovered by the rams, permitting the escape of the compressed fluid and relieving the rams from pressure.

\Vhere the material to be operated upon does not present an even surface or snfficient resistance to the forward movement of the rams, a metal plate may be inserted between the ends of the rams and the side of the oriiice into which the apparatus is tobeinserted. This will'enable the pressure of the rams to be directed against the plate instead of directly against the material.

If desired, the rams may be arranged on opposite sides of the frame.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. In a mining-maehine, a frame provided with a series of two or more ram-chambers and with ports or passages leading to said chambers from a pressure-supplyin g device, in combination with a corresponding series of rains each of which is held movabl y within its chamber by a retaining-bolt, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a mining-machiu e, the combination of a frame, a ram supported therein, a port or passage leading to said ram from a pressuresupplying device, an d a sectional ring mounted to slide upon the outer end of said ram and adapted to be contracted diametrically when the body of the ram is partially drawn out of said ring, substantially as and for the pnrposes shown and described.

3. In a 1nining-machine, the combination of a frame provided with a ram-chamber which is in communication with a pressure-supplying device, a ram within said chamber, a stop to prevent the ram from being forced entirely out of said chamber, and a spring adapted to draw said ram back into said chamber when the ram is relieved from pressure, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a mining-machine, the combination of the frame A, the ram I), the passages E, com in u nicatin g with a pressure-supplying device, the stop G, the spring I, and the relief-passage M, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a miningmachine, the combination of the frame A, ram D, )assages E, communicating with a pressure-supplying device, and bolts G, held in position by thev removable plugs II, substantially as shown and described.

Signed at South Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, this 24th day of July, A. D. 1880.

ALFRED E. \VATKINS. 

